Portugal v Greece - PREVIEW
Battle for history in unprecedented final
However things turn out in this most unexpected of European Championship finals on Sunday, the night will end with at least a couple of pieces of history being made.
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| Portuguese football team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gestures at a press conference after his team's training session at the Academia Sporting, near Lisbon, in preparation for the European 2004 Nations championship, 08 June 2004. Scolari had to reassure the president of the Portuguese football federation (FPF) today that he wanted to stay on in the post of coach till the 2006 World Cup. However Gilberto Madail expressed his frustration that Scolari's agent had evoked the possibility of his client - whose present contract runs till July 31 this year - returning to club football just four days away from Portugal opening their Euro 2004 campaign against Greece. AFP PHOTO / Lluis Gene |
Regardless of whether it is in Portugal or Greece that a night of raucous celebration is getting underway, deep in the bowels of the beautifully reconstructed Stadium of Light the name of a new country will be inscribed on the Henri Delaunay trophy.
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| Greece's coach, German Otto Rehhagel (L) gives advices to his players during a training session at the Rio Ave stadium, in Vila Do Conde, 10 June 2004, two days before the opening ceremony of the European Nations Championship. Greece will face Portugal in the Euro 2004 opening game. |
The Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), West Germany (1972, 1980, 1996 as Germany), Czechoslovakia (1976), France (1984, 2000), the Netherlands (1988) and Denmark (1992) are already there.
Whether it is the hosts or Greece who join them will depend on the work of two men who, beyond the occasional holiday, had virtually no contact with the two countries when the last Euro finals were being played four years ago.
Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel and Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian in charge of Portugal, are engaged in their own private battle to become the first foreigner to mastermind the capture of Europe's biggest prize.
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| Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (foreground) is congratulated by his teammate, forward Pedro Miguel Pauleta, (R) after scoring the opening goal, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT |
For both of them, the rewards for victory will extend beyond the eternal gratitude of their adopted nations.
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| Greece's defender Traianos Dellas (L) heads the ball to score, 01 July 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Greece and the Czech Republic at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Hrvoje POLAN |
In Rehhagel's case, it could be his ticket back to Germany as the successor to Rudi Voller, who stepped down as coach of the national team in the wake of their first round exit here.
For Scolari, the man who led Brazil to their fifth World Cup in Japan and South Korea two years ago, there is the prospect of becoming the first man to lift world and European titles with different countries, substantially enhancing his coaching credentials in the process.
Portugal will almost certainly have their chances. The key to realising the country's long cherished dream of victory is likely to be whether they can take them.
Teams
Portugal: Ricardo - Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Andrade, Nuno Valente - Costinha, Maniche - Figo (cap), Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo - Pauleta
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Greece: Nikopolidis - Seitaridis, Dellas, Kapsis, Fyssas - Zagorakis (cap), Basinas, Katsouranis - Charisteas, Giannakopoulos - Vryzas
Coach: Otto Rehhagel
Referee: Markus Merk (GER)